CBD Opposes Johnson Valley Expansion

[aphantomduck]

For Immediate Release, September 17, 2008

Contact: Ileene Anderson, Center for Biological Diversity, (323) 654-5943 (office);
(323) 490-0223 (mobile)

Public Land Seizure for Military Bombing Range
Threatens California Desert and Desert Tortoise

LOS ANGELES— The Bureau of Land Management has issued a Notice of Proposed Legislative Withdrawal to enable the eventual transfer of 365,906 acres of fragile public land in the Mojave Desert to the U.S. Marine Corps for bombing, tank training and other “live fire” exercises.

The lands identified by the Marine Corps for its Air Ground Combat Center training grounds near Twentynine Palms include habitat critical for survival of the threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and desert bighorn sheep. The Marine Corps says it needs the expansion for national security.

“National security doesn’t require seizing and bombing public lands and threatened species habitat,” said Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “The public needs more explanation on the need for the proposed expansion under which deserts and wildlife that are already in decline will fall victim to tank treads, heavy artillery and other destructive military activity.”

Today’s proposal is the latest in a string of threats to the tortoise. Having survived more than a million years in California’s deserts, desert tortoise numbers are now crashing, particularly in the West Mojave, where much of the expansion would occur. The population decline is due to numerous factors, including disease, habitat degradation, crushing by vehicles, military and suburban development, and predators. Because of its dwindling numbers, the desert tortoise, California’s official state reptile, is now protected under both federal and state endangered species acts. The expansion could also lead to additional disastrous tortoise relocations. Nearly 2,000 tortoises are already being experimentally relocated for the expansion of Fort Irwin, an Army post about 25 miles north of the Marine Corps base. That effort so far has resulted in unexpectedly high tortoise mortality rates.

In August, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a new draft recovery plan that would weaken protections for the tortoise. The plan provides only vague descriptions of recovery actions – actions that are not derived from the best available science. Recently, population genetics studies have identified the desert tortoise in the western portion of the Mojave Desert as distinctly different from its relatives to the northern, eastern, and southern portions. This finding sheds new light on why increased conservation and relocation success are more important than ever for the Fort Irwin effort.

“The legacy of one million years of evolutionary history should not fall victim to our president’s failed war,” Anderson said. “Endangered species remain the Bush administration’s very lowest priority — and in its final days, the administration appears to have set its sights on speeding the desert tortoise towards extinction.”

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national nonprofit conservation organization with more than 180,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places

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[GlamisGurlie]

These whack jobs never quit, do they Don't they realize that without OUR MILITARY they wouldn't have the freedom to spew such nonsense!!!!

[banshechick22]

These whack jobs never quit, do they Don't they realize that without OUR MILITARY they wouldn't have the freedom to spew such nonsense!!!!

Ah...but for now what they are fighting will help us keep more desert open for riding/racing. So let them spend their money as well and "help" us fight for our land.

[Fourstroker]

These whack jobs never quit, do they Don't they realize that without OUR MILITARY they wouldn't have the freedom to spew such nonsense!!!!

Jamie,

Do you realize that this military expansion proposal will likely wipe out the entire Johnson Valley OHV area which includes all races in Lucerne Valley? As Americans I recognize the need for the military but WE as OHV users should be opposed to this particular expansion. The CBD is also against the proposed expansion

[aphantomduck]

The Center is now opposed to the expansion at all.

The Partnership for Johnson Valley ("PFJV") says "look east" to the Marines.

Interesting proposition for the Marines.

[JJohnson]

Do you realize that this military expansion proposal will likely wipe out the entire Johnson Valley OHV area which includes all races in Lucerne Valley? As Americans I recognize the need for the military but WE as OHV users should be opposed to this particular expansion. The CBD is also against the proposed expansion

The Partnership for Johnson Valley ("PFJV") says "look east" to the Marines.

Interesting proposition for the Marines.

So let them spend their money as well and "help" us fight for our land.

I know offroad people are not only fighting. Dont the movie studios film out there a lot because it is one of the last places to get a 360 degree desert shot? Also do you think we could get the "Tree huggers" to help out because of the desert turtles? Both of them have deep pockets and have some interest in it. Just a thought

[Broncodawg]

Weird to be aligned with the CBD on ANYTHING at all! Guarantee their agenda calls for keeping the military out of there and then closing it to motorized use by us eventually! They are a bunch of elitist arrogant extremists using BS science through sleazy lawyers with no conscience. Do not trust one word they tell you regarding their intentions!

[ACME]

Don't trust the CBD, they don't want to help us and they sure as heck aren't interested in our access to the land. They want it fenced off; only to be used by a few caring and truly enlightened individuals. They will push for this to impede the military then the next move will to be to call for a study and shut everyone out as they've done repeatedly... I'm under the impression on the Eastern side there are a number of preserved areas with everything from Petroglylphs (sp)to coveted rock formations which would present issue with expansion that way. If this is true it seems geographically we're the logical losers in this battle. Isn't there an existing policy in place to protect the Desert Tortise and weren't the Lucerne/Barstow and Ridgecrest areas set aside as the only truely viable off road areas due to their lack of this little creature in the mid/late 80's? FYI: Before you jump on Ms. Fagan for her comments, she's on our team and is one of the good guys who works her butt off while a lot of folk sit on theres regarding these issues. Time to get involved, it's not as sexy as class 9 whooping up on the T-L but exceedingly more important...

[TexasRacing]

weird to be aligned with the cbd on anything at all! Guarantee their agenda calls for keeping the military out of there and then closing it to motorized use by us eventually! They are a bunch of elitist arrogant extremists using bs science through sleazy lawyers with no conscience. Do not trust one word they tell you regarding their intentions!

here...here!!!

[GlamisGurlie]

Jamie,

Do you realize that this military expansion proposal will likely wipe out the entire Johnson Valley OHV area which includes all races in Lucerne Valley? As Americans I recognize the need for the military but WE as OHV users should be opposed to this particular expansion. The CBD is also against the proposed expansion

Sorry, all I fixated on was Twenty-nine Palms